D.—l.

Napier District. Mangamaire Road (Dannevirke County). —The County Council satisfactorily completed the metalling of 66J ch. of this road from its junction with the Pokokomuka Road. Mangaone Stream Bridge (Hawke's Bay County). —This work consisted of reconstructing three spans of the above-mentioned bridge and entirely rebuilding four spans, also dismantling one span and clearing away abutment, &c. The total length of the bridge is six 40 ft. spans and one 20 ft. span, consisting of rolled-steel joists, concrete deck, and concrete piles and piers. Long Range Road (Patangata County). —2 m. 20 ch. of road was metalled. Kakariki Block Access Road (Wairoa County). —The purpose of this road is to give access to a large area of Crown land in the Kakariki Block, which is to be thrown open for settlement. The work of road formation is now complete, this year's work comprising the building of a bridge of two rolled-steel-joist spans of a total length of 61 ft. Mangapoike Road (Wairoa County). —1 m. 52 ch. of metalling was completed during the year. Mangapoike Valley Road: Frasertown-Tukemokihi (Wairoa County). —lom. of restoration of earthquake damage was carried out. Three bridges, of a total length of 134 ft., and three culverts, totalling 48 ft. in length, were completed. Putere Block Roads (Wairoa County). —The work on this road, which carried a subsidy from the Unemployment Board, was completed during the year, and the block, which is to be thrown open for settlement, is now served by a road 12 ft. wide and approximately 7J m. long. The more shady portions of the road have already been metalled, the total work done during the year approximating ljm. Waikaremoana Lake House to Hopuruahine Road (Wairoa County). —Widening on this road on the Lake House to Hopuruahine section in the Mokau Gorge was continued during the year, a total of 1 m. 14 ch. being widened, trimmed, canted, reculverted, and metalled with local sandstone. Saddle Hill Road (Woodville County). —Under Government grant the County Council erected over a stream which has caused inconvenience in the past a low reinforced-concrete rolled-steel-joist bridge of three 20 ft. spans without handrails, the deck width being 11 ft. 4 in. between wheel-guards. Five 65 lb. rails were driven between each of the abutments and piers. The concrete deck is carried on four 12 in. by 5 in. by 301b. rolled-steel joists. Wellington District. Akaroa Road (Akitio County). —3 m. 9 ch. of road formation was completed during the year. Range and Cross Roads (Akitio County). —Work during the year consisted of the metalling of a length of 1 m. 28 ch. of this road. Ngakonui - Summerhill Road (Featherston County). —With assistance from the Unemployment Board the Department has been able to form 1 m. 2 ch. of this road and to metal a length of 1 m. 16 ch. In addition, 92 lin. ft. of large size culverts was placed in position and a small timber bridge with concrete abutments was erected to give improved access over.a stream. White Rock and Cape River Roads (Featherston County). — These roads give access to large tracts of good sheep country, the development of which in the past was retarded owing to difficulty experienced in getting on to the property. Most of the work carried out during the year consisted of widening throughout the whole length of the road and clearing back running slips. Much good work has already been done, and it is hoped soon to have good vehicular access into this area. Korokoro Road (Hutt County). —This road serves an area close to the Borough of Petone which is gradually becoming a part of the city itself. There is already evidence of considerable settlement and with improved access settlement should intensify. The necessary work involves the construction of a wide road approximately Im. in length. The formation of 75 per cent, of the road is already completed, and metalling over this section is in hand. Horokiwi Road (Makara County). —Heavy widening work was completed over a distance of 40 ch., while work is in hand over a further 60 ch. Nelson District. Patarau River Bridge (Collingwood County). —Plans for the construction of a bridge of five 40 ft. rolled-steel-joist spans with 7 ft. 6 in. roadway on timber-pile piers have been approved. All material for the permanent structure is on the ground and tenders have been invited for labour contracts covering the erection of the bridge. Wairoa River to Mangarakau (Collingwood County). —The engineering trial survey of this road, covering a distance of 4m. 48 ch., has been completed. The whole of the route has been graded through, and is ready for permanent pegging. Permanent pegging, levelling, and cross-sectioning have been completed over a distance of 3 m. 37 ch. Mahakipawa Hill, Havelock to Picton Road (Marlborough County). —With a subsidy from the Unemployment Board the Department was able, during the year, to continue work on this road, and widening of 2m. 50 ch. was completed. This made a total of sm. 10 ch. since the commencement of the work. The road has now been handed over to the County Council for maintenance purposes. Blackwater Bridge, Mangles Valley Road (Murchison County). —The reconstruction of this bridge was carried out during the year. It consists of one 40 ft. main span and one 20 ft. and one 15 ft. end spans. The work comprised strengthening and repairs to piers, replacing timber stringers with four rolled-steel joists on main span, renewal of stringers on the 20 ft. span, eliminating the 15 ft. span, and redecking throughout. Shenandoah Road (Murchison County). —Departmental funds which have been subsidized by the Unemployment Board were used in the extension of formation on this road. The formation completed during the year amounted to approximately 3| m. On this length five small bridges were also erected.

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